LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Three Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) sign-ups are now open to rice producers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. The deadline to apply for all three projects is June 28, 2019. Eligible counties and parishes are listed below.
Through the Mid-South Graduated Water Stewardship signup, producers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri can address water quality, water quantity, and wildlife habitat resource concerns. Louisiana and Texas rice producers can apply for funds to address water quantity and habitat concerns through the Gulf Coast Water and Wildlife Conservation RCPP signup. Producers in Texas have the opportunity to apply for additional acres to enhance current conservation efforts through a special Lower Colorado River Authority Prairie Water Conservation project.
All three projects are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS).
To learn more about CSP, contact your local USDA service center or visit
www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. Rice Stewardship Partnership staff is another resource for information about the projects. Go
here for contact information for the staff member closest to you.
“This is another great opportunity for rice producers in the Mid-South and Gulf Coast to participate in a working lands conservation program,” said Josh Hankins, USA Rice Director of Grower Relations and Rice Stewardship Partnership. “This sign-up would not be possible without the support of our partners and the collaboration with NRCS, and we’re excited to continue to grow the Rice Stewardship Partnership program offerings.”
Mid-South Graduated Water Stewardship
Arkansas Counties: Arkansas, Ashley, Chicot, Clay, Conway, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Francis, White, and Woodruff
Louisiana Parishes: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, Madison, Morehouse, Rapides, Richland, St. Landry, St. Martin, Tensas, and West Carroll
Mississippi Counties: Bolivar, Coahoma, Humphreys, Leflore, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, and Washington
Missouri Counties: Bollinger, Butler, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Scott, and Stoddard
Gulf Coast Water and Wildlife Conservation
Louisiana Parishes: Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, and Vermillion
Texas Counties: Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Jackson, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Matagorda, Waller, and Wharton
Lower Colorado River Authority Prairie Water Conservation
Texas Counties: Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Jackson, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Matagorda, Waller, and Wharton. A special emphasis is placed on Colorado, Wharton, and Matagorda